Hi there, I’m American living in French Switzerland.
Because of my nationality and my family here, we’re trying to fit-in to our local area and being a family there is a lot of adjustment for what we have to do and it’s a process. I’ve noticed that Swiss-Germany, the Nordics, Germany and the Netherlands people are a lot more serious when you meet them and just kind of live a normal, steady and stable life without a lot of flexibility. And they hope that us foreigners that will kind of ‘fit-in’ to this lifestyle…which I think is more or less fair as I’m a guest in their country and trying to fit-in. But…at the end of the day…are they happier in this normal, steady and stable life? No criticism, genuine question.
I mean I get it, with a crazy, chaotic life we left in America, which has its fair share of problems…which is not the point I’m trying to make…we all know them. But there is more flexibility, more openness and acceptance of other social norms but it leads to these problems if unchecked…in my opinion…what do you think?
Thoughts? Experiences? What do you think?
Don’t bother trying to fit in. Not gonna happen. It’s less that they “hope you’ll fit in” and more “they truly can’t imagine anything else” (Source: used to live in Sweden, know exactly what you’re getting on about). Imagination among average people anywhere is generally quite limited though, it just takes this form in Germanic Europe.
The Germanic rigidity/emphasis on conformity/strong nature of “in-group.” I think stems from their tribal days back some 1500-2000 years ago as barbarian raiders on the fringes of the Roman Empire and on Europe’s geographic peripheries in general.
In contrast, Roman citizenship was far more permissive and flexible with regard to who is one; a mindset that definitely continues to influence Latin Europe today.
This mindset is actually hinted at in the Bible of all places, by Paul the Apostle during his travels throughout the empire. He actually described his treatment as a Roman citizen when in dispute with the authorities (in comparison to his similarly Jewish, non-citizen counterparts) and how having Roman citizenship gave him A LOT more benefit of the doubt.
Hope this helps explain it!
It does help!
It’s weird as a parent because you really have to speed ahead to understand the culture, the nuances of everyday life before your kids. But then for them to go to a public school and understand it at a lot more humble level and have them teach you. That of course is in contrast to…
Me, as an American I, and others of my political leanings find others that try to associate themselves as 'Merican as suspicious, and really don’t care about any sort of ‘assimilation’ to their fake American culture. They introduce ideas that aren’t ours, and that conflict on what is really 'Merican continues to this day.
Thanks for your insight. I’m always learning!